CM Pinarayi Vijayan defends appointment of Gita Gopinath as financial advisor

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Friday that only those who found bad even in good things criticised the appointment of Geetha Gopinath as the financial adviser to the Chief Minister. Mr Vijayan, who returned from a visit to New Delhi, told DC that Ms Gopinath was one of the best economists in the world. The warning that he should not deviate from Left thinking was welcome. “I am thankful to those who advise me to be more vigilant,” he said.

The allegation that the appointment was made without the knowledge of the party was wrong. It had been cleared by Party State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Mr Vijayan said. On questions about the post to be given to Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, he said that the act on dual posts was not passed keeping in mind any particular individual.

He said that the Union Minister of Fertilisers and Chemicals Ananthkumar had promised that a National Pharmaceutical Institute would be set up in Thiruvananthapuram. An area of 100 acres would be acquired by the state for this. The Union Commerce ministry had assured a package for the cashew sector on the lines of that promoting the rubber sector. This was because Rs 5,500 crore of foreign currency was received through the import of cashew pulp, Mr Vijayan said.

The centre had also promised a Plastic Industry Park and Central Institute of Plastic and Engineering and Technology. A site would be identified in Kannur for the purpose. Union Minister for Civil Aviation Gajapathy Raju had assured that relaxation for landing of wide-bodied aircraft in Kozhikode would be considered. The land for the development of the runway in the airport would be acquired on a war footing, Mr Vijayan added. He also said that the Aranmula airport and Air Kerala projects were not under the consideration of the government.

Jaitley, Kummanam back CM’s decision

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely has hailed chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's decision to appoint Gita Gopinath as his financial adviser. Such appointments would bring in fresh ideas, he told the chief minister during an informal meeting during Pinarayi's visit to Parliament on Friday. BJP state president Kummanam Rajendran also welcomed the appointment of Gopinath. "Pinarayi's statement that he was ready to change his ideas and stand was good," he said.